…We will not work in silos anymore – says Col. Dikio (rtd)
In his quest to restore the mandate of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to its original intent, the Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) has reiterated his unwavering determination to ensure that PAP beneficiaries receive quality and wholesome training and empowerment packages in the Maritime sector and other industries that will turn them into skilled entrepreneurs who can significantly contribute to the economy and wealth of the Niger Delta region.
The Interim Administrator, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) stated this when he received the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, who was accompanied by his management team at PAP head office in Abuja on Thursday, January 21, 2021.
Their visit was to lay the foundation and commence discussions for a partnership between the PAP and NIMASA on the training and education of PAP beneficiaries in Maritime specialities.
Some of the proposed courses are legal oil bunkering, maritime services, boat building and operations, fishing and others.
According to Col. Dikio (rtd), to ensure that sister agencies do not work in silos, the Amnesty Programme has set for itself the mission to cooperate and coordinate with relevant agencies and parastatals set up by the Federal Government to address the issues in the Niger Delta.
“On assumption of duty, I recognized that one of the things we must do is to cooperate and coordinate with relevant agencies and parastatals set up by the Federal Government to address the issues in the Niger Delta. So, it is right for me to say that your major domain is Niger Delta because the region is largely a riverine and water environment.”
The NIMISA boss, while congratulating the Interim Administrator on his appointment, stated the readiness of the agency to work with the PAP in line with their objective to maintain maritime security in the region.
“We ought to be here earlier than now because the Amnesty Programme understands maritime insecurity and the causes as you interface with the ex-agitators directly. We are ready to offer our 100% support to the Programme. We will work above and beyond to ensure that we work together to bring lasting solutions to the insecurity facing the maritime sector in the Niger Delta.”
Dr. Jamoh, who emphasized the need to educate the Niger Delta ex-agitators, said that it was necessary to facilitate development, and make them aware of their own contributions to the security of the region.
“We have made a proposal on what we call ‘Carrot and Stick’. This is targeted at educating the Niger Delta youth. We have provided a lot of opportunities and windows for youth in the Niger Delta to study various maritime courses. We have trained not less than 2500 Nigerians; more than 70% of them are from the Niger Delta and we are willing to continue.
“The Carrot and Stick Programme is also an entrepreneurship programme where Niger Delta youths can learn different skills that will transform them to entrepreneurs.”
The Interim Administrator thanked the NIMASA DG for taking the initiative, assuring him that the PAP was on the same page with the agency.
“A lot of what you have said live in the heart of our vision here, particularly this idea of working together. We aim to break down all barriers and remove the impediments to the cooperate security of Nigeria.”
“I think we are on to a good thing. Before you came, we have had a collaboration meeting with NIWA, and we are working out an interface. Apart from the security nexus, there is a huge commercial opportunity in the Maritime Industry, and we intend to take advantage of that.”
Col. Dikio (rtd) stressed the need to train the youth in security and protective services who will in turn establish local security outfits, and also empower the already existing local security outfits to address the issues of insecurity in the region.
According to him, it is the mission of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to make the Niger Delta the most secure place to live and do business in Nigeria, and the relevant agencies will not be left out in the attainment of the desired end state.
